Machine for use in the manufacture of linen collars and the like



Apr. 17,1923. 145mm E. B. FENBY MACHINE FOBQUSE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LINEN GOLLARS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet l A r. 17, 1923. 1,152,111 ,E. B. FENBY MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LINEN COLLARS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AC INE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTU 1,1 5 RE OF L E N COLL RS 2 AN THE LI 4 Sheet heet 3 'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiifli%/ Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllll E. B. BY

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E. B.- FENBY Apr. 17, 1923. 1,452,111

MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LINEN COLLARS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ens Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

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EDGAR BEVERLEY FENIBY, OF LEAMINGTON SPA, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LINEN COLLARS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December 28, 1928. Serial No. 433,720. I

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDGAR BEVERLEY FENBY, residing at 28 Grove Street, Leamington Spa, in the county of Warwick, England, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Machines v for Use in the Manufacture of Linen Collars and the like, of which the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of fourfold linen collars, two strips of lining material and two strips of linen are cut to the configuration of the collar, and in the first stages of manufacture the edges of one strip of lining and one strip of linen are folded inwards together to form a hem, and whilst under the action of the folding tools are simultaneously heated and pressed to fix or set the folds. Subsequently a pair of such parts are placed and sewn together with the linen portions outwards to complete the collar.

The present invention relates to the folding and pressing operations on linen collars and the like, and has for its object to provide improved means for effecting these operations.

The invention comprises the construction of a folder from a plurality of thin metal strips arranged side by side so that by relative sliding movements their operative ends can be caused to assume any desired configuration, thus enabling the one folder to be adapted to suit a collar or the like of any shape.

The invention also comprises the construction of the folder from relatively slidable sections so that all the edges of the folder can move inwards over the edges of the material to be folded.

Further the invention comprises the combination with a heated pressure plate which operates in conjunction with the folder, of an expansible diaphragm or its equivalent which under fluid pressure causes the desired pressure to be applied to the work.

Referring to the four accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 a cross section of a folding machine constructed in accordance with this invention; the end portion at the right hand side which is broken away on Figure l is similar to the left hand side which is shown.

Fi ures 3 and 4 are diagrammatic plans. and igures-5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic cross sections illustrating the stages in a folding operation effected by the machines shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 8 is a plan illustrating the formation of the lock corners in the folded parts of a linen collar.

In carrying the invention into effect as shown, the folder is constructed from a number of relatively movable sections each carrying a group of thin metal strips. The two main groups corresponding to the longitudinal edges of the article to be folded (which in the case illustrated is a linen collar) are represented by a, b, the end groups by c and the corner groups by (Z. In addition, a special folding element 6 is provided atcach of a pair of corners for use in the formation of what is known as the lockcorner. This will be referred to in detail later. The groups of folder strips a, b are carried by slidable holders constructed in the form of clamps by which the strips can be secured. The bottom plate 7 of each of such clamps is continuous, but the upper part is made from sections 9 each of which can be independently secured by a holt 71 to the bottom plate. Each of these holders is carried at its ends by lugs 2' capable of sliding in guides j on supports 70 secured on the base Z of the machine. At its under side each holder. is also carried on springs m located on pins 01 which freely enter foot pieces 0 capable of sliding on the base of the machine. These holders are pushed apart by the interaction of spring actuated plungers 72 whose adjacent ends abut as shown in Figure 2. Movement of the holders toward each other is effected by compressed air cylinders Q acting on brackets 1- at the ends of the holders, the cylinders being movable on fixed hollow pistons 9 carried on the above mentioned supports 7c. The brackets 1" are preferably hinged so that they can be swung out of the way to permit the holders to be lifted off the machine base, and to permit also removal of the said cylinders for inspection or repair.

Each of the smaller groups of folder strips 0, (Z is clamped to the underside of and carried by a compressed air cylinder movable on a fixed piston 25 carried by a support a on the base of the machine. The return movements of these cylinders are effected by springs v. The lock corner pieces e are carried and actuated inlike manner to the strips 0, (Z, the cylinders, supports and springs being indicated by the same reference letters 8, u, and 4; respectively.

In conjunction with the folder is arranged a plate in (or shape) made to the configuration of the collar parts to be operated on, and carried by a counterbalanced arm at hinged on the machine base. An extension 3 at the underside of the arm serves to operate an air valve 2 as hereinafter described.

When setting up the machine, the plate 10 is brought down into contact with a table 2 over which the inner ends of the folder pieces can slide. The various clamping devices of the folding strips are released, and the strips are individually pushed forward until their inner ends touch the edges of the plate w. To allow a little clearance between the ends of the strips and the plate after adjustment, all the cylinders are initially pushed forward slightly on their pistons. After the strips have been set and secured in their various clamping devices, the cylinders are returned to their proper initial positions. A small space is then left between the inner ends of the strips and the plate, but the said ends of the strips accurately correspond with the configuration of the plate.

It will be apparent that to enable the different groups to all move inwards simultaneously, the corner groups (Z must be capable of yielding. This provided for by spacing the strips in these groups by short intermediate strips cl as shown in Figures 1 and 3. These groups can then contract laterally under the pressure of the adjacent rigid groups as shown in Figure l.

The operation of folding will best be followed by reference to Figures 3 to 8. The two similarly shaped parts, namely the facing and the lining, which require to be folded together along their edges in the manner indicated by Figure 8 are laid in a recess formed at the inner ends of the folder strips as shown in Figure 5, the parts to be folded being designated by 3. The plate w is then brought down and caused to carry the parts 3 between the ends of the folder strips into contact with the table 2. This table is carried by springs at on a fixed plate 5 and the pressure exerted by the plate 10 is suflicient to depress the table 2 as shown in Figure (3. In this position the edges of the parts 3 are turned up as illustrated. Subsequently compressed air is admitted to the various cylinders and the groups of folder strips are moved inwards over the plate in as shown in Figures rand 7. Pressure is now applied to the plate 2 and this is effected by compressed'air admitted by a connection. 6 to a dilatable flat chamber 7 formed by a pair of thin metal plates, sealed around their edges. The said chamber is situated between the fixed plate 5 and an intermediate plate 8. Above the plate 8 and beneath the plate 9. is arranged any convenient electrically heated element 9, which heats the plate 2, so that the folded parts 3 are simultaneously heated and pressed, the pressure being transmitted to the plate 2 from the chamber 7 through the plate 8 and heater 9.

On releasing the air pressure in the chamber 7, and in the various cylinders which actuate the folder strips, the latter return under the action of the different springs above mentioned, and the plate w under the action of the spring or weight operating on the arm 00 rises carrying the folded parts 3 with it. The parts 3 can then be stripped offithe plate, and the operation repeated on another pair of like parts.

For the production f lock corners use is made of the special folding elements 6. The corners are square and are characterized by the turning of one fold over another as shown in Figure 8 To produce these corners, the pieces 6 (whose fiat operative ends are very thin) are caused to come into action first, in the operation shown in Figure 7 The springs n of the cylinders s which actuate the pieces 0 are rather weaker than the others, so that when the air pressure is admitted to the various cylinders the pieces 6 move in advance of the other folding strips. Starting with the edges of the parts 3 turned up as in Figure 6, the pieces 6 move forward and turn down a portion of these edges at the corners. It will be noticed that the left hand piece 6 acts on a longitudinaledge of the material t be folded, whilst the right hand piece acts on one end. Subsequently when the other groups offolder strips move forward a part of the left hand group 0 moves over the left hand element 6 and the right hand end of the group a moves over the right hand element 6. A double fold is thus formed at ieachcorner as shown in Fgure 8. When the two opposite halves of the collar come to be sewn together, the :adj acent lock-corners are first interengaged in the usual manner.

For automatir'cally controlling the flow of compressed air into and out of the various cylinders from a source of supply a valve 10 is used. Air from the source is admitted at ll and initially the valve 10 is closed. At the upper end of :the valve 10 is a head 1'2 contained in a chamber 13, air being admitted through a small orifice at the upper end of a longitudinal passage in the valve 10. Initially the pressure in the chamber 13 .is the same as that of the source and the valve 10 occupies the lower position shown in Figure 2. hen the arm a; is swung down.

an abutment 14 on the extension 3 opens the valve 2 thus releasing the pressure in the chamber 13 to atmosphere past the valve stem. Immediately the valve 10 then rises and first allows air to pass to the cylinders g and 8 through pipes connected to passages 15. When the folder strips approach or reach the inner limit of their movement a projection 16 on the..plate f trips the abutment lei and allows the valve 2 to reclose. Pressure then immediately begins to accumulate in the chamber 13, but this proceeds relatively slowly owing to the smallness of the aperture in the upper end of the valve and while this is proceeding the valve 10 continues to rise and admits air through the passage 17 to the dilatable chamber 7. When the pressure at the source is balanced by the pressure in the chamber 13 the valve descends and when it reaches its. original position it puts the passages 15 and 17 into communication with the exhaust outlet 18.

The operation is repeated when the arm :0 1s again moved down.

Among a variety of important advantages resulting from this invention is that the inconvenience and expense associated with-the usual folders necessitating a separate folder for each collar or like shape are avoided.

The invention is not limited to use in the manufacture of linen collars as it may be applied to other analogous uses. Also the invention is not limited to the constructional details herein described as these may be varied to meet different requirement.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In folding machines for use in the manufacture of collars and the like, a folding element having a folding edge variable in shape from end to end, whereby an article may be folded to produce different configurations.

2. In folding machines for use in the manufacture of collars and the like, a plurality of folding elements each having a folding edge variable in shape from end to end, whereby an article may be folded to produce different configurations.

8. In folding machines for use in the manufacture of collars and the like, a folding element including a series of relatively slidable plates arranged to form a folding edge variable in shape from end to end whereby an article may be folded to produce different configurations.

4. In folding machines for use in the manufacture of collars and the like, a folding element including relatively slidable groups of thin metal strips arranged to form a folding edge variable in shape from end to end, whereby an article may be folded to produce different configurations.

5. In folding machines for use in the manufacture of collars and the like, a folder consisting of relatively slidable groups of thin metal strips, the strips in all the groups being relatively adjustable to form folding edges variable in shape from end to end, the strips of one of said groups being laterally flexible, so that all the groups can remain in contact during their movements toward and away from each other.

6. In folding machines for use in the manufacture of linen collars and the like, the combination comprising relatively slidable groups of thin metal folder strips forming folding edges variable in shape from end to end and adapted to fold the edges of the articles to be operated on, and supplementary folder elements adapted to operate in conjunction with said strips for producing double corner folds.

7. In folding machines for use in the manufacture of linen collars and the like, the combination comprising groups of relatively adjustable thin metal folder strips, holders for the said strips, fluid pressure cylinders for producing movements of the holders in one direction, springs for returning the holders, a heated pressure plate over which the folder strips slide, a fluid pressure diaphragm acting on the said plate for producing pressure between the, pressure plate and the folder strips, a hinged arm, a shaped plate carried on the arm, the shaped plate being adapted to co-operate with the folder strips and pressure plate, a valve automatically admitting and releasing the pressure fluid to and from the said cylinders and diaphragm, means on the hinged arm for controlling the said valve, and means on one of the holders for putting the said valve controlling means out of action, substantially as described.

8. In a folding machine for use in the manufacture of linen collars and the like, a folder consisting in part of a folder element carrying member, a folder element actuated by said member and including a series of thin relatively slidable plates arranged side by side to form a folding edge variable in shape from end to end, each of said plates being independently adjustable in the direction of movement of the carrying member for the production of different configurations.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDGAR BEVERLEY FENBY. 

